Sequence variants at the myostatin gene locus influence the body composition of Thoroughbred horses.
Abstract: Myostatin is a member of the transforming growth factor-β family with a key role in inhibition of muscle growth by negative regulation of both myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Recently, a genomic region on ECA18, which includes the MSTN gene, was identified as a candidate region influencing racing performance in Thoroughbreds. In this study, four SNPs on ECA18, g.65809482T>C, g.65868604G>T, g.66493737C>T, and g.66539967A>G, were genotyped in 91 Thoroughbred horses-in-training to evaluate the association between genotype and body composition traits, including body weight, withers height, chest circumference, cannon circumference, and body weight/withers height. Of these, statistically differences in body weight and body weight/withers height were associated with specific genotypes in males. Specifically, body weight/withers height showed statistically significant differences depending on genotype at g.658604G>T, g.66493737C>T, and g.66539967A>G (PT, had the highest value (3.17 ± 0.05 kg·cm(-1)) for body weight/withers height in March, while those with a genotype associated with suitability for long-distance racing, T/T, had the lowest (2.99 ± 0.03 kg·cm(-1)). In females, the trends in the association of body weight/withers height with genotypes were similar to those observed in males. As the SNPs are not believed to be linked to coding variants in MSTN, these results suggest that regulation of MSTN gene expression influences skeletal muscle mass and hence racing performance, particularly optimum race distance, in Thoroughbred horses.
Publication Date: 2011-08-11 PubMed ID: 21836385DOI: 10.1292/jvms.11-0295Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research paper delves into how specific gene variants in the myostatin gene influence the body composition and thus racing performance of Thoroughbred racing horses.
Understanding Myostatin and its Role
Myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β family, is known for its role in inhibiting muscle growth. It does this by negatively regulating the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts, which are the precursors to muscle cells. The locus for the myostatin (MSTN) gene has been recognized as a potential area affecting Thoroughbred racing performance.
Methods and Results
- A team of researchers analyzed four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on ECA18, the chromosome where the MSTN gene resides. The selected SNPs were g.65809482T>C, g.65868604G>T, g.66493737C>T, and g.66539967A>G.
- These SNPs were genotyped in a sample of 91 Thoroughbred horses-in-training.
- The researchers then examined the horses’ body composition traits such as body weight, height at the withers, chest and cannon circumferences, and the ratio of body weight/withers height.
- The results revealed that specific genotypes were associated with statistically significant differences in body weight and the body weight/withers height ratio in male horses. Females showed similar tendencies, with body weight/withers height association with genotypes similar to those observed in males.
Impact on Racing Performance
- Different genotypes were connected to suitability for different types of races. For example, in males, the C/C genotype at location g.66493737C>T was associated with suitability for short-distance racing due to its higher body weight/withers height value in March.
- By contrast, the T/T genotype at the same locus showed indication of suitability for long-distance racing due to its lower body weight/withers height value.
Conclusion
The research concluded that although the SNPs identified in this study are not found within coding variants of the MSTN gene, they suggest a possible regulatory role. They could influence the gene’s expression, thus affecting muscle mass, racing performance, and optimal race distance of Thoroughbred horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Tozaki T, Sato F, Hill EW, Miyake T, Endo Y, Kakoi H, Gawahara H, Hirota K, Nakano Y, Nambo Y, Kurosawa M.
(2011).
Sequence variants at the myostatin gene locus influence the body composition of Thoroughbred horses.
J Vet Med Sci, 73(12), 1617-1624.
https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.11-0295 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320–0851, Japan. ttozaki@lrc.or.jp
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Composition / genetics
- Body Composition / physiology
- Female
- Genotype
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Myostatin / genetics
- Myostatin / metabolism
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Citations
This article has been cited 20 times.- Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Kakoi H, Hirota KI, Takahashi Y, Nagata SI. Short Insertion and Deletion Discoveries via Whole-Genome Sequencing of 101 Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Genes (Basel) 2023 Mar 3;14(3).
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- Velie BD, Fegraeus KJ, Solé M, Rosengren MK, Røed KH, Ihler CF, Strand E, Lindgren G. A genome-wide association study for harness racing success in the Norwegian-Swedish coldblooded trotter reveals genes for learning and energy metabolism.. BMC Genet 2018 Aug 29;19(1):80.
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